Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Week

Campus News
A graphic of Indigenous Peoples Week 2024.
Cal Poly Humboldt will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Week (IPW) on October 14-18. This year marks the 31st annual celebration of IPW, which challenges the idea that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America and offers an alternative celebration that features a week of activities focused on the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.

This year’s IPW features a wide variety of events, including film screenings, workshops, and exhibition tours. 

Indigenous Peoples Day was first celebrated in 1992 in Berkeley, California as an alternative to Columbus Day. In 1996, the American Indian Alliance expanded it to a full week of activities.

This year’s celebration also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP), which offers support to first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students in STEM disciplines by integrating Indigenous peoples’ Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with mainstream practices.

Founded in 1974 as the Native American Career Education in Natural Resources program, the program later expanded to serve those in all science and engineering fields. Today it’s known as INRSEP + Diversity in STEM, reflecting its expanded support for all underrepresented students. 

For a full list of events, please visit ITEPP’s website.

Indigenous Peoples Week Schedule

Monday, Oct. 14

  • Noon - 1 p.m. ITEPP Club Kickoff on the Quad

Tuesday, Oct. 15

  • 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. “Tribal Justice” film screening, Native Forum (Behavioral & Social Sciences, 162)
  • 1 - 5 p.m. Landscape care and hands-on work day, Wiyot Plaza (Between BSS Building and Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute)
  • 6 - 8 p.m. “Elemental: Reimagining Wildfire” film screening and panel, Native Forum (Behavioral & Social Sciences, 162)


Wednesday, Oct. 16

  • 2 - 4 p.m. INRSEP open house and tour
  • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Book talk with Chef Sara Calvosa, Native Forum (Behavioral & Social Sciences 162)


Thursday, Oct. 17

  • 1 - 4 p.m. “Las Kitchenistas” film screening, Native Forum (Behavioral & Social Sciences 162)
  • 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Home Collections Exhibition opening reception, Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery
  • 5 - 6:30 p.m. Decolonizing Sustainability with Dr. Daniel Lipe, Native Forum (Behavioral & Social Sciences, 162)


Friday, Oct. 18

  • 10 a.m. - Noon, “Twice Colonized” Film Screening, Library 209 Fishbowl
  • 3 - 4 p.m. Exhibition Tour: Home Collections, Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery